Stars stumble against Marlies in high-flying Game 1

Game 2 is Sunday at 3 p.m. in Toronto. Games 3 and 4 are Tuesday and Thursday at the HEB Center

Jason Dickinson and the Stars lost to the Toronto Marlies 6-5 in Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals on Saturday.

Christian Bonin/Toronto Marlies

Travis Morin scored two goals, but the Stars lost to the Toronto Marlies 6-5 in Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals on Saturday.

Christian Bonin/Toronto Marlies

Mike McKenna and the Stars lost to the Toronto Marlies 6-5 in Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals on Saturday.

Christian Bonin/Toronto Marlies

Posted
Saturday, June 2, 2018 4:30 pm

By ZACH SMITH, HCN Sports Editor

The Stars fell to the Toronto Marlies 6-5 in Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals on Saturday.

Toronto scored the game-winning goal with less than 10 minutes left in regulation. The game featured four ties and 71 shots between the two teams. Game 2 will be Sunday at 3 p.m. in Toronto.

Travis Morin finished with two goals and an assist for Texas. Justin Dowling had a goal and two assists and Curtis McKenzie had a goal and an assist. Austin Fyten also found the back of the net for the Stars.

Goalie Mike McKenna stopped 28 of 34 shots. Texas was 2-of-4 on the power play.

Games 3 and 4 shift to the HEB Center on Tuesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. If necessary, Game 5 will be Saturday in Cedar Park with Games 6 and 7 happening in Canada next Tuesday and Thursday at 6 p.m.

Morin opened the scoring less than five minutes into the game, scoring his fifth goal of the playoff with a shot from the slot on the power play. The play was confirmed after a short review to see if Texas interfered with the Toronto goalie.

The Marlies evened the score a few minutes later when a pass from the corner deflected off Texas defender Reece Scarlett and in. Curtis McKenzie reinstalled the Stars’ lead later in the frame when he scored on the power play, following a pinpoint pass from defender Brent Regner.

Toronto scored just over halfway through the second period, but Austin Fyten, who missed the first part of the playoffs with an injury, gave Texas a 3-2 lead less than 30 seconds later with a with his second goal in five postseason games.

Morin scored his second of the game with four minutes left in the second, pounding home a rebound off a shot by Justin Dowling.

McKenna let a Toronto shot dribble past him with 15 seconds left in the second period.

“We’re trying to keep things simple and negate their speed and their transition by getting pucks in deep,” Morin told TSN after the second period. “We’ve been able to get some rebounds and some goals.”

Toronto scored a pair of goals early in the third period to take its first lead of the game.

Justin Dowling tied the game yet again with his third of the playoffs in the third. Marlies forward Trevor Moore scored the game-winning goal from the slot as he was returning to action after breaking his stick.